Read More

Councillor Toby Neal, portfolio holder for community and customer services at the city council, said: “The council have worked closely with the Sneinton Old School Hall Committee after a survey found concerns with the buildings structural integrity. The condition survey also showed the hall needed major renovation works and the investment need to make it safe and usable was unfortunately not available.

“Three options were looked at before the decision to close was taken. Refurbishment costs were over £400,000, however £1.2 million was needed to fully refurbish the building. The third option was a Heritage Lottery Fund bid in conjunction with the Windmill Trust.

Read More

"Unfortunately the high costs of all three options, plus the fact that there is spare capacity at four other community centres in Dales Ward, including some close to Sneinton Old School House, meant that none of the options were financially viable and a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund was unlikely to succeed.

“The centre has been declared as an asset of community value, which ensures any development of the building in the future has to have a benefit to the community or have a strong element of community value as part of its plans."

The money from the sale of the hall will be used to support other schemes or projects the council want in the future.

Shop owner Curtis McFarland, of Walker Street, said the building definitely was "not an eye-sore at all".

The 40-year-old said: "It is definitely run down, but it’s been around since the 1840s.

"It is one of the oldest buildings in the area and is an important part of the community."

Dana Carter, 28, of Dalton Avenue, said: "I hope they don’t demolish it and are able to find some kind of sustainable use to it."

Karen Peek, 56, of Windmill Lane added: "It’s a green, calm place, with a lot of love attached to it.